+ MAP: SUBURBS AT RISK OF FLOODING ON WEDNESDAY
+ FLOODS WILL BE WORSE THAN '74: BLIGH
Authorities have called for calm as Brisbane's roads clog up with workers seeking to flee the city while the Brisbane River breaches its banks at multiple locations.
Today, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman warned the worst of the flooding was yet to come, with Thursday likely to be "devastating".
Cr Newman said latest flood modelling suggested 6500 properties could be inundated, with 16,500 to be partially affected.
Police advised there have been no forced evacuations in the CBD, however numerous employers have advised their workers to go home, including department stores Myer and David Jones in the Queen Street Mall.
------------
A re you caught in the floods? Tell us your story and send photographs to cos@canberratimes.com.au
-------------
Public transport will continue to operate throughout the afternoon, however Translink advises of service cancellations, disruptions and diversions in place across the network due to flooding.
Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk called for residents to remain clear-headed.
The Brisbane River laps at the Riverside Centre in Brisbane's CBD. CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS
"People need to be sensible and not panic, but they need to be prepared," Cr Quirk said.
"What we've seen today is a fair bit of panic. We've had a significant departure of people from the CBD going back to their homes."
An evacuation centre has been set up at the RNA Showgrounds at Bowen Hills for residents affected by floods.
A Brisbane City Council statement said the centre had been set up for those who wanted to evacuate of their own accord and could not be accommodated with family or friends. Residents were advised to take their own pillows and sheets, medication, important documents and spare clothing. Pets were unable to be accommodated at the evacuation centre, council said.
A number of buildings in the CBD and Fortitude Valley have been self-evacuated, with Eagle Street at the pier now under water, according to police.
West End residents have been urged to move to higher ground, while the river has also reportedly breached its banks at New Farm and Auchenflower.
North of the city, Caboolture has become completely isolated, while Strathpine residents are also being told to make for higher ground.
Roads are crowded and thousands of people are flocking to use public transport as the CBD empties.
Brisbane Airport remains open. There have been reports that buildings in the neighbouring suburb of Pinkenba are taking water and residents have been urged to seek higher ground.
Earlier today, the gates were thrown open to commuters at Brisbane's Central Station.
Translink spokesperson Andrew Berkman asked customers to be patient throughout the afternoon peak.
"The weather and associated flooding has impacted on all modes of public transport, with bus, ferry and train services all impacted to varying degrees," Mr Berkman said.
He directed travellers to the Translink website for up-to-date travel information.
Police urged motorists to show caution and drive to the conditions.
"We urge people to plan their journey home carefully, and to leave plenty of time to get home before water cuts off a number roads in low-lying areas," a police alert said.
Susan MacDonald, who was waiting for a train to get to her house in Middle Park in Brisbane's west, said her entire office was ordered to go home.
"Our office is down at Eagle Street; we can see the river coming up," she said.
Public service employees in Brisbane have been granted special leave to return home if they have concern about their properties.
The Riverwalk in the city has been shut off and the Powerhouse in New Farm has been closed. Businesses along Coronation Drive have also been evacuated.
Staff at Jellyfish restaurant and Boardwalk Bar and Bistro were pulling furniture and electrical appliances out of their restaurants on Eagle Street Pier this morning as they watched the river level rise. The Breakfast Creek Hotel has closed, as was Palace Cinemas Centro.
The University of Queensland campus at Gatton has been completely cut off by floods, while low-lying parts of the St Lucia campus have been evacuated. All classes have been cancelled for the next two days.
West End
Police have urged all residents who live, or are currently, near the Brisbane River at West End to move to safer areas.
"The Brisbane River has risen and we are starting to see the water enter streets in the low lying areas of West End," police said.
A number of roads in the area are blocked as residents attempt to leave the suburb.
'Wall of water' heading for Wivenhoe Dam
Authorities are conducting new modelling to see what the wall of water ripping through the Lockyer Valley will mean for Wivenhoe Dam, Premier Anna Bligh said this morning.
Much of the deluge that fell in the Toowoomba region and is now ripping a path of devastation in the Lockyer Valley will move into the catchment of the Wivenhoe Dam system that feeds Brisbane.
Ms Bligh warned large releases of water would be required from Wivenhoe Dam as a result of higher-than-expected inflows, with water then set to flow through the Brisbane River.
The Premier said authorities must continue to ensure the dam functioned properly.
"Releases from Wivenhoe are not optional, there is no discretion here," she said.
Ms Bligh said flood modelling and dam operations were continually being reviewed.
"It is a constantly changing situation," she said.
More severe weather for Brisbane
Meanwhile, a severe weather warning has been issued for much of south-east Queensland, including Brisbane and the south-east coast, Darling Downs and the Granite Belt south-east of Dalby to Goondiwindi.
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of heavy rainfall causing localised flash flooding and worsening the existing river flood situation.
Thousands of Brisbane properties at risk
Eight thousand Brisbane properties could be at risk of further flooding tomorrow, while 400 streets may also be affected in some way, according to Brisbane City Council forecasts issued yesterday.
Authorities say Wivenhoe Dam, built partly as a flood mitigation strategy after the 1974 flood, was all that stood in the way of a repeat of the devastating event.
Last night, as Queensland's flood crisis took a dramatic and deadly turn for the worse, Brisbane City Council released a list of suburbs in the state capital where properties were likely to be inundated tomorrow.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the Brisbane River could rise by up to half a metre more than it did yesterday, due to a combination of high tides, heavy rainfall and necessary releases from the rapidly filling Wivenhoe Dam.
The council identified 455 properties that would experience some flooding tomorrow, at least 221 of which were homes and businesses.
These high-risk properties include residential and business properties in Albion, Auchenflower, Brisbane City, Bowen Hills, Bulimba, Fortitude Valley, Graceville, Hemmant, Indooroopilly, Kangaroo Point, Lytton, Milton, New Farm, Newstead, Norman Park, Oxley, Pinkenba, Rocklea, Sherwood, Tennyson, Wacol, Windsor and Yeronga.
A spokeswoman said the council's modelling had also identified an additional 7731 properties that may possibly see some flooding either on the land or outside the property, depending on the severity of flooding.
More than 400 streets would be affected by flooding in some way tomorrow, she said.
The council has dispatched seven rapid response group teams to doorknock and letterbox drop details to the 221 most-at-risk homes and businesses.
Brisbane's Local Disaster Co-ordination Centre has been activated and tens of thousands of sandbags are being made available at council depots in Darra, Morningside, Zillmere and Newmarket.
- with AAP
- with AAP
Source: The Canberra Times
0 comments:
Post a Comment